In praise of Page 8
Page 8 of the Taipei Times was on fire on Oct. 20.
The editorial “Missiles, leaks and really odd timing,” makes it abundantly clear that Democratic Progressive Party forces within the military leaked information on missile tests so that economic cooperation framework agreement (EFCA) talks got pushed back. No surprises there, as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) don’t want any missile news on their radar. Pun intended!
If the tests were successful, does the KMT government want it hushed up? Probably, as it doesn’t want to appear either capable or aggressive in the wake of “talks.”
Then there was “Closing schools and low birthrates.” While reading the penultimate paragraph, a sudden vision kept coming into focus. This paragraph is what an ECFA will lead to, as has been noted frequently in the Taipei Times (and imagery-wise, it’s scary!)
Jerome Keating’s piece was ... how to put it? On the mark? Correct! Funny? Certainly! To me, it is a very good critique of Mr President.
As for “Illusions about Chinese goodwill,” you can see what you get when you deal with the Chinese. The Dalai Lama fled after making agreements with the CCP; Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) got 100 years even though he too arranged agreements with the CCP during his term as president.
Chen was labeled a troublemaker and now anyone who opposes the KMT-CCP alliance is labeled the same.
With the government weak and eager for the EFCA agreement, invocations of mass layoffs are quite frightful. Moreover, leaders who have done deals with China always appear to eventually be punished. Someone’s got something coming to them.
Taipei
The NCC responds
Regarding the story “NCC criticized following Hoklo, China complaints,” published in the Taipei Times on Oct. 16 [page 2], the National Communications Commission (NCC) finds the questioning of its behavior, which carried the implications of contentious action and even violation of freedom of speech, grossly inaccurate. To deepen understanding of the facts, the NCC wishes to clarify its position on this case.
The NCC, as an independent regulatory body responsible for the Taiwanese broadcasting industry, invariably manages public opinions in a professional manner consistent with the law. According to Article 11 of the Public Television Act (公共電視法), the service shall operate independently without interference.
In addition, Article 46 of the same law stipulates if a viewer considers that a Public Television Service (PTS) program has violated the provisions of Article 36 to Article 41, he/she may send a written complaint with specific facts to PTS within 15 days of the broadcast of the program. PTS shall state its reasons and the methods for reconsideration in case the complainant does not accept its disposition, in a written response to the complainant within 30 days of receiving the complaint.
Therefore, while the NCC accepts public opinions on PTS broadcasts, they are invariably handed over to PTS to be dealt with by its own law and concerns.
This is a fundamental principle that the NCC or the former official authority have always acted in accordance with. Thus, any accusation of restricting freedom of speech is simply untrue.
The media are enterprises of special permission and social instruments. In addition, PTS “belongs to the entire body of citizens” and has been established as a mass communication system for the public.
Consequently, audiences usually show higher expectation for PTS and its programs.
Hence, PTS should consider and respect public criticism and exercise self-examination to help serve its social responsibility more effectively.
DR BONNIE PENG
Chairperson,
National Communications Commission
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